BERHAMPUR: A team of Ganjam district officials led by Chatrapur Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra seized a tanker containing some 20,000 litres of naphtha that was being brought into the State near Tanganapalli on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday.

It was allegedly being transported illegally to a clandestine petrol and diesel adulteration unit operating at Bhabandha village of Purushottampur block. The vehicle driver had no licence to transport the explosive liquid.

No licence

The vehicle too did not have necessary safety measures needed for transporting the inflammable substance. As per its waybill, it was travelling from Hyderabad to Dimapur in Nagaland. Mr. Mishra said it was an irony that the driver managed to dodge check-posts throughout the route. Driver K. Srinivas and helper D. Ramesh were arrested. Raids were also conducted on the petrol and diesel adulteration unit at Bhabandha with the arrest of three other persons. But the owner of the unit Trilochan Panigrahi, who allegedly brought the consignment, managed to escape.

Probe launched

Investigation had been initiated to track down the source and network behind the illegal transportation of naphtha into Orissa.

Cause for concern

The Sub-Collector admitted that easy availability of the highly inflammable naphtha was a cause for concern.

Naphtha is used as a solvent for fats, gums and resins in industries.

With low ignition temperature, it is used as an explosive in the military as it ignites fast and its flames spread out to larger areas.

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